Can



E 'fiUNlTED STATES Patented June 19, 1934 PATENT OFFICE.

CAN

Lucien I. Yeomans, Chicago, Ill. Application August 17, 1932, Serial No. 6:29.104

3 Claims; (01. 220-54) The invention pertains to tin cans of the type -used for packing commoditiesfand has especial reference tothat type of can which embodies a tearing strip adjacent the upperedge of the can body and in which the top of the can constitutes, "uponthe removal of the tea-ring strip; a cover adapted for reengagement with the can body for reclosure purposes.

The principal object of the present invention is toprovide a novel construction for the can such that upon the removal of the tearing strip, the cover may be reassembled'readily with the can body intotightly fitting relation thereto.

A further object is to provide on the can body and cover, respectively, improved cooperating seating surfaces engageable upon the removal of the tearing strip to insure a snug and substantially air tight fit.

The objects of the invention thus generally stated, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a can embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale showing the relation of the parts before removal of the tearing strip.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the relation of the parts after the removal of the tearing strip and the reclosure of the can.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, 5 designates the usual cylindrical side wall of a can body equipped with a top or cover section 6 joined to the upper end of the body. Near the upper end of the side wall 5 is a tearing strip '7 terminating in the usual tongue 8 for engagement by a key (not shown). Said tearing strip is preferably made relatively narrow and is defined by spaced parallel score lines 9 and 10. The upper end of the side wall is extended upwardly above the upper score line 9 for connection with the cover section 6, and the latter comprises, in this instance, a top plate 11 having at its peripheral edge an upturned flange 12 of substantial depth and interlocked at its upper edge portion with the upper end of the body 5 by means of a double seam 13. It will be apparent that upon removal of the tearing strip 7, the upper portion of the body 5 attached to the cover section becomes severed from the body, thus permitting the removal of the cover section to gain access to the contents of the can.

In providing for the reclosure of the can in such a way as to insure that a tight seal may be quickly and easily efiected; the portion. of the I wall 5 just below the lower score line 10 is shaped to form an inwardly and downwardly tapering body seat 14 of substantial width or depth, and similarly the cover flange 12 is inclined inwardly and downwardly from a point just above the upper score li'ne- 9 tothe lower edge of the flange which merges with the transversely extending topplate 11 at a pointspaced inwardly from the lower score line 10. Above the upper score line 9, the cover flange is preferably made vertical so as toform a backing for the upper end of the sidewall' during the formation of the seam 13.

The degree of taper of the cover seating flange correspondswith that of the body seat 14', and the latter ispressed inward bodily a shortdistance from the vertical line of the side wall so that upon the removal of the tearing strip the tapering surfaces will engage (see Fig. 3) in advance of the abutment of the upper severed end edge 15 of the side wall with the severed end edge 16. In other words, the end edges 15 and 16 of the body formed by the removal of the tearing strip will be sufficiently spaced to permit the tapering surfaces of the cover and side wall to be engaged with a wedging action after a short downward movement of the cover, and thus effect readily a tight seal.

In offsetting the body seat 14, the portion of the side wall immediately below the score line 10 is bent inwardly as at 17 at a relatively sharp angle, and then downwardly'at a relatively small angle to the vertical, the lower edge portion of the annular seating portion 14 being pressed inwardly to a greater extent as indicated at 18. In addition to the effect above noted of offsetting the body seat inwardly, the upper end of the can body formed upon the removal of the tearing strip at the score line 10 is caused to flare outwardly and upwardly permitting the easy insertion of the cover flange into the body; and the bent upper edge formed in producing such a flare serves to stiffen the body while the tearing strip is being removed. Also the tearing operation occurs at a point remote from the seating surfaces so that any ragged edge set up by the removal of the strip does not destroy the smooth character of the seat.

It will be observed that by reason of the fact that the tapering seating surfaces are inclined from the vertical at a relatively small angle, be ing in practice approximately one inch to the foot, the cover flange, in being pressed into position against the annular seating portion of the side wall, exerts a strong outward pressure in a direction approximately transversely of the body. Thus, a powerful wedging action is produced in the reclosing operation which insures a substantially air tight fit between the cover and the side wall.

I claim as my invention:

1. A can having an annular side wall with a tearing strip therein spaced a short distance from the upper end of the sidewall, and with an annular portion pressed bodily inward from the side Wall immediately below the lower edge of the tearing strip and to a gradually increasing extent to provide an inwardly oiiset inner surface of substantial Width tapering inwardly and downwardly at a relatively small angle to the.

vertical, and an end wall for the can having an upturned peripheral flange with a narrow upper portion secured to the upper end of the side Wall above the tearing strip and a wide lower portion tapering inwardly and downwardly from said upper portion at an angle substantially corresponding to the taper of the inwardly ofiset portion of the side wall, said lower tapering portion terminating in inwardly spaced relation to the upper edge of said tapering portion of the side wall, and said tapering surfaces being engageable with a gradually increasing pressure when 'thetearing strip has been removed.

2. A canhaving an annular side wall with a tearing strip therein spaced a short distance from the upper end of the side wall, and with an annular portion offset sharply inward from a point in the side wall immediately below the lower edge of the tearing strip and to a gradually increasing extent to provide an inwardly offset body seat of substantial width tapering inwardly downwardly from said upper portion at an angle substantially corresponding to the taper of the body seat, said lower tapering portion terminating in inwardly spaced relation to the upper inwardly offset edge of the body seat, and said' tapering surfaces being engageable with a gradually increasing pressure between the coacting surfaces when the tearing strip has been removed. 3. A can having an annular side wall with a tearing strip therein spaced a short distance from the upper end of the side wall, and with an annular portion pressed bodily inward from the side wall immediately below the lower edge of the tearing strip and to a gradually increasing extent to provide an inwardly ofiset innersurface of substantial width tapering inwardly and downwardly at a relatively small angle to the vertical, and an end wall for the can having an upturned peripheral flange with an upper portion secured to the upper end of the side wall above the tearing strip and a wide lower portion tapere ing inwardly and downwardly from said upper portion at an angle substantially corresponding to the taper of the inwardly oiiset portion of the side Wall, said tapering surfaces being engageable when the tearing strip has been removed with a gradually increasing pressure and over an .area of a width approximately equal to the width of the tearing strip. a

LUCIEN I. YEOMANS. 

